12/12, 1:31pm

Excessive overtime remains unresolved

A report issued by the advocacy group Fair Labor Association has praised Foxconn for continuing to improve working conditions. An audit reportedly found that three of Foxconn's factories in Longhua, Chengdu and Guanlan, each tasked with assembling iPhones and other Apple devices, have satisfied nearly all of the goals that were outlined last year in a reform plan.

08/21, 5:56pm

Over 280 improvements made on or ahead of schedule

Apple's industry-leading membership in the Fair Labor Association (FLA), which promised audits of Chinese companies that acted as suppliers to a number of electronics manufacturers including the iPad maker, has resulted in a progress report that finds evidence of genuine progress. The report found substantial improvements, including some ahead of schedule.

05/31, 11:28am

Bosses imposing 'humiliating' discipline on workers, group says

Little has changed at Foxconn since it and Apple agreed to make changes in the wake of a Fair Labor Association report, says Student & Scholars Against Corporate Misbehaviour. The activist group recently visited several Foxconn factories and interviewed 170 workers, and claims that rights violations "remain the norm," involving high production targets, inhumane treatment, and evidence of broad salary cuts. "The frontline management continue to impose humiliating disciplinary measures on workers," a SACOM report reads.

03/29, 5:50pm

Promises shorter hours, better health and safety

The Fair Labor Association has announced the results of its investigation into labor problems at Apple's major manufacturing partner, Foxconn. The full probe is said to have taken almost a month, and found "excessive overtime and problems with overtime compensation; several health and safety risks; and crucial communication gaps that have led to a widespread sense of unsafe working conditions among workers," according to the FLA.

02/22, 11:00am

Workers reassigned, given unusual privileges

Underage Foxconn workers were transferred to other departments or not scheduled to work overtime in advance of inspections by the Fair Labor Association, an activist group tells AppleInsider. Students & Scholars Against Corporate Misbehavior project officer Debby Sze Wan Chan says that last week, she heard from two Foxconn workers in Zhenghou who said the company prepared itself before the FLA arrived. "All underage workers, between 16-17 years old, were not assigned any overtime work and some of them were even sent to other departments," Chan claims.

02/18, 5:15am

ABC's Nightline gets special access to Apple ops

The ABC TV network has announced that it will be screening a special edition of Nightline next week focusing on working conditions in Apple’s supply chain. The network received special permission from Apple, giving it rare media access to the inner workings of where Apple’s products are made. Network anchor Bill Weir took a film crew with him into factories on Shenzhen China, claiming that he is the first journalist to ever get a look inside.

02/17, 6:10pm

Apple auditor FLA says Foxconn needs to be fixed

Fair Labor Association chief Auret van Heerden updated his opinions in a conversation on Friday that signaled possibly drastic action ahead. In talking to Bloomberg, he partly rescinded an earlier warm reaction and said the group was "finding tons of issues" at the contract manufacturer. He wouldn't say what these were, but he anticipated "very significant announcements" soon.

02/16, 4:50pm

Accuses FLA of incentives to approve Foxconn

Activist group SumOfUs has issued a statement criticizing the president of the Fair Labor Association, Auret van Heerden, for initially approving of Foxconn factory conditions. Even though the FLA is just beginning its study, based on early tours, van Heerden has already claimed that Foxconn plants are "first-class" with conditions "way, way above average of the norm." A finished FLA report is only due in early March.